IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


M    12.0 


1.4   11.6 


o»     ^>* 


^/ 


7 


Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporalion 


\ 


N> 


23  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIISriR.N.Y.  145M 

(71«)t73-4S03 


4^ 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductiona  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notaa  tachniquoa  at  bibiiographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibiiographicaiiy  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignlficantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


Q 


D 
D 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covara  damagad/ 


D 


Couvartura  andommagia 

Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  paliiculAa 

Covar  titia  miaaing/ 

La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  gAographlquaa  an  coulaur 

Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 

Colourad  piataa  and/or  iiluatrationa/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  iiluatrationa  an  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  material/ 
Rail*  avac  d'autraa  documanta 

Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortlon 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  iiure  aerrAe  peut  cauaar  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortlon  la  long  de  la  marge  IntArleure 

Blank  leavaa  added  during  reatoration  may 
appeer  within  the  text.  Whenever  poaaible,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certalnee  pagea  blanchea  ajouttea 
lora  d'une  reatauration  apparalaaent  dana  la  texte, 
mala,  loraqua  cela  4tait  poaaible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  «t«  flim^aa. 

Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairea  aupplAmantairaa: 


The 
toti 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  meiileur  exemplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  4t€  poaaible  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  dAtaiia 
da  cet  exemplaira  qui  aont  paut-Atre  uniquea  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthoda  normala  de  fiimaga 
aont  Indlquia  ci-deaaoua. 


I — I  Coloured  pagea/ 


D 


Pagea  de  couleur 

Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  andommagAea 


□   Pagea  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagea  reataurAea  at/ou  pailiculAee 

0   Pagea  diacolourad,  atalnad  or  foxed/ 
Pagea  dteolorAea,  tachettee  ou  piqui 


Tha 
poa 
oft 
film 


Orii 
bag 
tha 
aioi 
othi 
firai 
aioi 
ori 


piquAea 


□   Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  dAtachAea 

HShowthrough/ 
Tranaparence 


Tranaparence 

Quality  of  prir 

QualM  inigale  de  I'lmpreeaion 

Includaa  aupplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  material  auppMmentaIre 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seuie  MItion  diaponlMe 


I     I   Quality  of  print  variea/ 

rn   Includaa  aupplementary  material/ 

I — I   Only  edition  available/ 


The 
aha 
TIN 
whi 

Mai 
diff 
ant 
bad 
rigl 
req 
me 


Pagea  wholly  or  partially  obacurad  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauea,  etc..  have  been  refilmed  to 
enaure  the  beat  poaaible  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalement  ou  partiailement 
obacurciea  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  M*  filmtea  A  nouveau  da  fagon  A 
obtanir  la  mellleure  image  poaaible. 


Thia  item  la  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indlqu*  ci-deaaoua. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


12X 


16X 


aox 


26X 


30X 


K 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th0  copy  filmtd  h«re  has  bMn  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  off  Canada 


L'exempiaire  filmA  f ut  reproduit  grflce  A  la 
gAnirositA  de: 

Bibliothique  nationaie  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  ieglblllty 
off  the  original  copy  and  In  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  speclfflcations. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  ffilmed 
beginning  with  the  ffront  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  ffilmed  beginning  on  the 
fflrst  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


Les  Images  sulvantes  ont  AtA  reproduites  avec  ie 
plus  grand  soln,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettetA  de  l'exempiaire  ffiimt,  et  en 
confformitA  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
ffiimage. 

Les  exemplaires  orlglnaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  Imprlmte  sont  ffiimAs  en  commen^ant 
par  Ie  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'lllustration,  soit  par  ie  second 
plat,  salon  Ie  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
orlglnaux  sont  fllmte  en  commenqant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  emprelnte 
d'impresslon  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 


The  last  recorded  fframe  on  each  microfflche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ^-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernlAre  Image  de  cheque  microfflche,  selon  Ie 
cas:  Ie  symbols  -~^  signiffie  "A  SUIVRE",  Ie 
symbols  V  signiffie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
diffferent  reduction  retios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  ffilmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  Illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
ffilmfo  it  des  taux  de  reduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  Ie  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  11  est  ffiimi  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  Ie  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  ia  mAthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

!i— 'V_ 


rxjcu ,  wt^'.  W 


I 


ANNUAL    REPORT 


OF  THB 


SELECT   COMMITTEE 


OF   THK 


SOCIETY  FOR  PROPAGATING  THE  GOSPEL 


AMOXG  THK 


INDIANS  AND  OTHERS   IN   NORTH   AMERICA. 


rRESENTED  NOVEMBER  2,  1848. 


BOSTON: 
rmXTED  BY  JOHN  WILSON,  21,  SCHOOL  STREET. 

1848. 


0 

^ 


y 


■f^i"  *f 


s.i  -txi 


1 


s"&l^.&«g'.«»:»;--  i^« 


■A 


ANNUAL    RErORT 


OF   TIIU 


'foil 


SELECT   COMMITTEE 


OF  THE 


SOCIETY  FOR  PROPAGATING  THE  GOSPEL 


AMONG  THE 


INDIANS  AND  OTHERS   IN   NORTH  AMERICA. 


rilESENTED  NOVEMBER  2,  1848. 


BOSTON: 

nnXTED  BY  JOIIX  WILSON.  21.  SCHOOL  STREET. 

1H4S. 


\ 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 
1848-9. 


llox.  LEMUEL  SHAW,  LL.D.  . 
linv.  WILLIAM  JENKS,  D.D,       . 
Uiiv.  FRANCIS  PAIiKMAN,  D.D. 
Hon.  JAMES  SAVAGE,  LL.D.    . 
Rev.  S.  K.  LOTIIUOP 
BENJAMIN  GUILD,  Esq.       . 
Hon.  IIICIIAIID  SULLIVAN    . 


Select  (tommitttt. 


PllKSIDF.NT. 
ViCK-PuKSIDENT. 

Skcuktauy. 
Theasuukr. 
Assistant  Secketauv. 

ViCE-TuEASUUEH. 

Aunrrou. 


Kev.  SAMITEL  BARRETT,  D.D. 
Rev.  CONVERS  FRANCIS,  D.D. 


Rev.  CYRUS  A.  BARTOL, 
BENJAMIN  GUILD,  Esci. 


Rev.  SAMUEL  K.  LOTIIROP, 

With  the  I'rcsidcnt,  Sccrctai-v,  and  TreasTui'r. 


: 


|«issionai'irs  in  tlje  cmplofimcitt  of  tfjc  ^Socictfi. 

Rev.  William  G.  Eliot St.  Louis  and  destitute  vicinity,  Missouri. 

Rev.  MoRDECAi  D'Lange Quincy  and  destitute  vici:  ;S  .  Illinois. 

Rev.  Auoi'STUs  II.  Conant Geneva  and  destitute  vicinitv   Illinois. 

Rev.  Geouoe  'W'.  Woodwaud  ....  Galena,  Savanna,  and  destitute  vicinity. 

Rev.  W.  T.  Huntington iMilwaukie  and  destitute  vicinity,  Wisconsin. 

Rev.  T.  C.  Adam Manchester,  Clinton,  and  do.  Michigan. 

Rev.  IIexuy  Emmons Vernon,  Oncidn,  and  do.  New  York. 

Rev.  E.  T.  Gekuy Standish,  E.  Standish,  and  W.  Gorham,  ^le. 

Rev.  Adiiison  ]5iu)\VN>  ,,  ^      ,  ,  ,      . 

T,        .    ,,  > V  crnon,  Leyden,  and  destitute  vicinitv. 

Rev.  A.  BitiDGE  ) 

Rev.  L.  D.  Bloixjet Isle  of  Shoals. 

Mrs.  Blodget Teacher  of  the  School. 

Rev.  AmiAUAM  Pumeu Island  of  Matiiiicus,  Maine. 

Rev.  1'hineas  Fish Indians  of  Murshijce  and  Herring  I'ond. 


MEMBERS    OK   THE    SOCIETY 

lS4S-i». 


Tlov. 

lU>v. 

iron. 

Ui'v. 

Ufv. 

Rev. 

Hon. 

Hon. 

lion. 

Kfv. 

llou. 

Rev. 

lion. 

Rev. 

Ri'V. 

Rov. 

Ri-v. 

Rov. 

Ruv. 

Ihm. 

lion. 

Ruv. 

Rev. 

Rov. 

Rev. 

Reuj 

Rov'. 

lion. 

Rov. 

Riv. 

Rov. 

lion. 

Rev. 

Goor 

Chav 

Rov 

Rov. 

ll(m, 

Rov. 

Hon, 

Rov. 

Rov. 

Rov. 

Edw 

Rov. 


Joshua  Hntfx,  D.I). 
Janus  Konilall,  I). I). 
Jonathan  Phillips 
John  I'i'Tw,  D.I). 
Cliarlos  Lowoll,  D.I). 
l-'i'anois  I'arkmau,  D.D. 
I'linv  C'utlor, 
Daniol  Wobstor,  LL.D. 
Richard  Sullivan, 
William  Jonks,  D.I). 
Janu's  Savai,'o,  l.L.D. 
(ioor^o  Putnam,  D.D. 
( 'liiot' Justioo  iShaw, 
(.'ouvors  I'ranois,  D.D. 
Kmi  S.  (Jannott,  D.D. 
Charlos  I{ri;j;ii;s, 
llourv  A.  Miles, 
Joseph  l-'iold,  D.D. 
Alex.  Younfi,  D.D. 
Daniol  A.  White,  1,L.D. 
Siunu(!l  Hoar,  LL.D. 
Samuel  Rarrott,  D.D. 
]'4)hraim  Poabody,  D.D. 
Andrew  P.  Poabody, 
(Joorijo  W.  Rrif^gs, 
iimin  (Juild,  Es([. 
Samuel  Iv.  Lothro'i, 
Abbott  Lawrenoe, 
Chandler  Robbins, 
C.  A.  liavtol. 
James  W.  Thom])sou, 
Stephen  C.  Phillip.s, 
(iocu'^o  E.  Ellis, 
ifo  a.  Emerson,  Escj. 
ios  \V.  I'pham,  Escj, 
Edward  R.  Hall,  D.D. 
Alon/o  llill, 
Stephen  Fairbanks, 
Alvan  Ijamson,  D.D. 
,  I'eleg  Sprai^uo,  liL.D. 
fieo.  R.  Noyos,  D.D. 
F,  D.  Huntington, 
Christopher  T.  Thayer, 
ard  Wifiu'lesworth,  Esq. 
William  J.  Ruddington, 


Dudley,  Mass. 

Plymouth    . 

Rostou 

Urookline     . 

Cambridge 

Rostou 

Uoston 

Marshtiohl   . 

Rostou 

Rostou 

Rostcm 

Roxbury 

Rostou 

Cambridg(! 

Rostou 

Roxbury 

Lowell 

Weston 

Rostou 

Salem 

Concord 

Rostou 

Rostcm 

Portsmouth,  N 

Plymouth 

Roston 

Roston 

Roston 

Rostou 

Rostou 

Salem 

Salem 

Charlcstown 

Rostou 

Salem 

I'rovidence 

Worcester 

Roston 

Dodham 

Roston 

Cambridge 

Rostou 

Rovorly    . 

Roston 

Charlostowu 


wiicii  !•; 

ITlcil. 

ISO.'i 

• 

ISO.) 

lS(t,". 

,                , 

ISll 

IHll 

,                , 

ISIS 

ISIS 

, 

IS '."J 

\H-ir, 

,                , 

is:{2 

is;);{ 

, 

is;t;i 

1s:m 

,                , 

is:u 

Wil 

,                , 

is:i.> 

is;)") 

,                , 

is:i7 

ISH7 

,                , 

ISHS 

is;i!) 

,                , 

ih;{!) 

IS.'W 

,                , 

IS  10 

1840 

,                , 

18  tl 

1813 

Mav, 

1844 

MaV 

1S44 

May 

1844 

May 

1844 

.    Nov 

IS  14 

Nov 

1844 

.   May 

184() 

May 

1840 

.    Nov 

1840 

Nov 

1840 

.   Mav 

1847 

^lay 

1847 

.    Nov 

1S47 

Nov 

1847 

.    Nov 

.  1847 

Mav 

1S4S 

.    Nov- 

.  1S4H 

Nov 

.  1848 

\ 


Of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  individuals  who  lu-e  or  have  been,  moui- 
bors  of  the  Society  since  its  organization  in  17S7,  one  hundred  and  three  luive 
died  or  resigned;  leaving  forty-tive,  the  present  number  of  the  Society.  Ry  its 
charter,  the  number  of  members  may  at  no  time  exceed  lifty. 


11  r.ii'i'ioii. 

LSD.) 
.  180.J 

.  18)1 
LSI! 

.  ISIH 
1H1« 

.   l.Sl.'2 

IS  •.>.-> 

.  lH:i2 
IS'i.'t 

.  ih:{;; 

1.s;h 

.  i.s;ii 

IH.M 

.  !«;!-> 
I8;i") 

.  iH;i7 
is;i7 

.  1838 

1839 
.  1839 

1839 
,  1810 

1840 
.  1811 

1843 
V,  1844 
V,  1844 
y,  1844 
r,  1844 
f.  1844 
•,  1844 
',  1840 
-,  1840 
'.  1840 
■.  1840 
■,  1847 
■,  1847 
.  1847 
.  1847 
.  1847 
,  1848 
.  1H4S 
.  1848 


Ji  i:  V  o  11  T. 


At  no  period  within  the  remembrnnnc  of  the  Committee, 
and,  wc  bclic^•o,  since  tlic  commencement  of  the  Society 
itself,  have  its  operations  been  more  varied  or  extended 
than  during  the  past  year.  The  appropriations  for  its 
distinct  and  peculiar  objects,  those  originally  contem- 
plated by  the  founders  of  the  Society,  and  which  for  a 
series  of  now  more  than  sixty  years  have  been  uniformly 
pursued,  have  nearly  reached  the  whole  income  of  tlie 
Treasury;  though  its  resources  have,  by  skilful  man- 
agement and  a  late  nuinificent  bequest,  been  much 
enlarged.  In  1844,  the  whole  amount  of  the  funds  was 
;^37,378.82;  and  now,  in  1848,  it  exceeds  $5 1,000. 

The  appropriations  for  the  year  past  have 
been,  for  Western  and  North-western  missions ; 
viz.  St.  Louis,  Quincy,  Geneva,  (lalena,  Illinois, 
Milwaukie,  and  Manchester  in  Michigan  .     .     .  ^1,400 

For  the  Indians,  viz.  the  Onondagas,  in  the 
western  parts  of  New  York ;  for  the  Indians  of 
Marshpee  and  Herring  Pond ;  and  two  Indian 
youths,  of  the  Saginaw  tribe,  in  the  Albion  Sem- 
inary, Michigan 700 


Carrivtl  fonrard 


^2A(H) 


G 


Ih'oiijflit  funrat'd     .... 

For  I  III'  Isli"  ot'Slioals 

For  tho  people  ot'tlie  Island  of  Mutiiiictis 

For  destitute  places  in  the  vicinity  of  Stnnd- 
ish,  Fast  Standisli,  and  ^^'est  (lorliam,  Maine    . 

For  destitute  places  in  the  nei«,'hl)orhood  of 
liCyden,  N'enion,  &c.  on  the  frontiers  of  the 
State      


250 
150 

200 


100 


■;| 


i^  2,800 

From  all  our  missionaries,  the  Secretary  has  re(!eived 
communications  or  reiwrts,  some  of  them  minute  and 
interestinfj;,  hoth  of  April  last,  for  tlie  annual  meetinj^ ; 
and  in  th(»  month  of  October,  just  closed,  for  the  present 
meeting ;  from  all  which  he  is  authorized  by  the  C'om- 
mittee  to  present  the  foll()^^  hv^  dij^est. 

And  first  from  our  faithful  friend,  Rev.  \V.  G.  Eliot, 
of  St.  Louis,  th(^  oldest  and  also  the  most  remote  of  our 
missionaries :  — 

Rev.  Dr.  Piirkman.  St.  I/ocis,  Aii<i;ust,  181S. 

My  dear  Sir,  —  Will  you  allow  nu'  to  report,  throiijfli  you,  to  the 
Society  ibr  the  l'ropaj,Mtion  ol'  the  (iospel,  the  progress  made  by  me 
in  their  service  for  the  six  months  ending  November  ne.\t. 

As  their  missionary,  I  have  conducted,  in  various  parts  of  Missouri 
and  Illinois,  thirty-one  religious  services  ;  nearly  all  of  which  were 
in  places  which  are,  under  my  instructions,  properly  speaking  "  desti- 
tute." Six  of  them  were  performed  previously  to  your  last  May 
meeting;  but  they  seemed  too  inconsiderable  to  justify  a  separate 
report,  and  arc  accordingly  incorporated  in  the  present.  The  number 
of  miles  travelled  has  been  considerably  over  one  thousand,  of  which 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  were  by  various  methods  of  land  car- 
riage  The   months  of  July   and   August  have   been  entirely 

devoted  to  missionary  purposes,  with  the  exception  of  one  week  ;  and. 


'! 


200 


100 


7 


;ilth()iiji;li  I  have  boon  cvorywhcrc  cDriliiilly  wclronu'il,  anil  liavi;  nut 
witli  iniiny  thing's  well  nilculntcd  to  make  my  duties  j)lca«unt,  yet  the 
excursion  has  hccu,  on  the  whole,  one  of  j,'reat  lahor  and  discomfort. 
On  the  other  hai\d,  I  think  1  may  say,  that  I  eould  not  have  spent  the 
time  more  profitably  as  your  missionary;  and  that  1  have  every  reason 
to  he  satistieil  with  the  manner  in  whicli  1  was  received,  and  the 
*' j,'ladness "  with  which  I  was  heard.  In  some  instances,  i»irsons 
rode  ten  or  twelve  n\iles  from  their  homes  to  attend  the  meetin^fs; 
and  amon^'  my  hearers,  in  every  place,  have  hecn  some  who  had  not 
attended  ]ml)lic  worship  for  several  years.  The  subjects  which  I  have 
l)rouK;ht  before  them  have  been  uniformly,  with  one  exception,  of  the 
most  practical  nature.  One  of  them,  which  1  selected  oftener  than 
any  other,  is  "Christian  charity;"  with  the  intention  of  showing', 
that,  notwithstanding  the  numerous  points  of  dispute  among  Chris- 
tians, there  is  agreement.  Hufticient  to  justify  peace  and  good-will 
among  all  these  who  are  regenerate  in  their  lives.  These  views  have 
been  cordially  received  by  members  of  all  sects,  which  is  the  more 
gratifying  to  me,  because  there  is  nothing  l)y  which  the  cause  of  reli- 
gion is  so  much  hindered  in  the  small  villages  and  sparse  settlements  of 
the  West,  as  by  uncharitableness  and  bigotry.  Methodist,  Episcopa- 
lian, Kaptist,  and  Presbyterian  are  all  arrayed  in  opposition  ;  and 
the  conseijuence  is,  that,  in  some  villages  of  five  or  six  hundred  inhabi- 
tants, I  found  no  house  of  worship  of  any  sort.  A  missionary  of  peace 
is  wanted  in  such  places. 

In  one  instance  only,  namely  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  I  preached  doc- 
trinally,  by  strong  request;  hut  this  city  is  so  large,  although  very 
inadequately  provided  with  religious  instrurtion,  that  it  does  not  so 
properly  come  into  consideration,  under  my  commission,  as  the  smaller 
towns  and  settlements.  In  all  other  cases,  I  so  far  succeeded  in  avoid- 
ing all  controverted  topics,  that  I  uniformly  received  the  kindest  co- 
operation from  many  persons  of  the  most  opposite  views.  .  .  .  The  parts 
which  I  have  visited  are  the  counties  of  Tazewell,  Knox,  Peoria,  Hun- 
cock,  and  Pike,  in  Illinois ;  and  Clarke  and  St.  Louis  counties  in 
Missouri. 

With  the  hope  that  this  report  will  meet  with  approbation, 

I  remain,  truly,  Wm.  G.  Ei.iot,  Jnn. 


From  Rev.  Mordecai  D'Lan^c,  formerly  tlic  co-ad jutor 
of  Mr.  Eliot,  as  a  minister  to  the  poor  in  St.  Louis,  but 


now  having  a  separate  mission  in  Quincy,  Illinois,  as  the 
successor  of  the  lamented  George  INIoore,  avc  quote  the 
following :  — 

QuixcY,  Illinois,  May  7,  1818. 

Pear  Sir,  —  As  I  believe  the  annual  incctini?  of  the  Society  for 
Propaj^ating  the  Gospel  to  be  at  hand,  I  send  you  this  statement  of 
my  labors  in  its  service. 

Commencing  with  the  first  or  second  Sunday  in  December  last.  I 
have  preached  every  Sabbath  afternoon  since,  with  a  single  exception, 
to  the  present  moment,  at  a  country  school-house  about  three  and  a 
half  miles  from  Quincy.  The  adult  attendance  averages  from  twenty 
to  twenty-five  ;  but  the  whole  number  occasionally  apiiroachcd  by  my 
labor  is  probably  three  or  four  times  as  many.  This  necessarily  im- 
plies a  great  want  of  regularity,  which  may  be  attributed  to  causes 
peculiar  to  newly  settled  countries.  But  1  have  reason  to  believe,  that 
a  number  of  persons  have  thus  occasionally  heard  the  word,  who 
would  not  otherwise  have  received  it.  I  can  perceive  no  marked 
results ;  but  1  have,  in  a  degree,  the  sympathy  and  support  of  several 
of  the  most  respectable  families  in  the  neighborhood,  who  believe  that 
my  work  has  been  productive  of  good. 

On  the  third  or  fourth  Sunday  from  that  upon  which  I  commenced 
my  preaching,  I  ojjcncd  a  Sabbath  school  in  the  same  place.  The 
number  of  cliildren  enrolled  is  about  thirty ;  but  the  attendance  is 
exceedingly  irregular,  —  its  average  is  between  fifteen  and  twenty. 
The  causes  of  this  irregularity  are  the  same  as  those  alluded  to  in 
relation  to  adults.  I  hope  to  obviate  it  in  a  great  degree  by  obtaining 
a  library :  thus  far,  I  have  been  able  to  distribute  among  them  only  a 
few  small  pamphlets.  Some  of  the  children  attend  very  regularly.  I 
believe  all  to  be  more  or  less,  and  some  greatly,  benefited.  The  work 
here  described,  I  design  to  continue  for  an  indefinite  period. 

I  have  also  preached  one  evening  in  each  month,  at  about  the  same 
distance  in  another  direction.  I  have  been  solicited  to  open  a  Sabbath 
school  at  this  place,  but  am  forbidden  by  the  pressure  of  other  duties. 
At  this  station  I  continue  the  work  commenced  by  our  departed 
brother,  George  Moore.  I  know  nothing  of  the  results.  I  can  but 
have  faith  that  the  word,  honestly  spoken  in  God's  service,  will  more 
or  less  influence  the  hearts  of  hearers.  This  work  I  also  design  to 
continue,  and  next  winter  to  increase  it  by  going  to  the  place  cither 
twice  a  month  or  weekly. 


1) 


!,  as  the 
Lote  the 

1848. 
ocicty  for 
temcnt  of 

er  last.  I 
exception, 
CO  and  a 
m  twenty 
ictl  by  my 
warily  im- 
to  causes 
lievc,  that 
ord,  who 
o  marked 
of  several 
;lieve  that 

)mmcnced 
ice.  The 
udance  is 
twenty, 
cd  to  in 
obtaining 
m  only  a 
ilarly.  I 
The  work 

the  same 
Sabbath 

er  duties. 

departed 

can  but 

will  more 
lign  to 

ce  cither 


I  have  preached  twice  in  the  village  of  Louisiana,  to  a  congregation 
exceeding,  I  think,  a  liundred  hearers ;   and  once  in  Bowling  Oreen. 

These  two  places  are  in  Missouri 

Yours  in  Christian  brotlierhood, 

MoRDKCvi  D'Lanch',. 

Ar>ain,  Mr.  ll'Lange  writes:  — 

Chicago,  Oct.  17,  1848. 

Dear  Sir.  —  ....  I  commenced  preaching  at  Quincy,  2 1st  Novem- 
ber, 1847,  and  iiiuucMliatcly  proceeded  to  ascertain  a  suitable  locality, 
at  which  to  perform  my  missionary  duty.  1  chose  a  place  about 
three  miles  from  Quincy,  wIk  re  a  schoul-jiouse  had  boon  recently 
built.  This  place  is  known  by  tlie  name  of  lUicna  Vista.  I  began 
my  labors  tliere  in  tlie  beginning  of  Dccombur  :  preiichiiig  on  Sunday 
afternoon,  and  announcing  my  intention  to  continue  my  services  every 
Sunday  at  tlie  same  hour,  i  also  projxised  tiu;  innncdiate  formation 
of  a  Sunday  school. 

By  the  grace  of  God,  I  have  in  some  nu'axnro  succeeded  in  my 
designs  at  Buena  Vista.  I  h:ive,  since  my  commencement,  gone  there 
regularly  every  Sunday  afternoon,  excepting  four:  upon  three  of  which 
my  absence  was  occasioned  by  illness,  and  upon  one  by  absence 
from  Quincy.  Aiming  earnestly  at  piinctuality,  and  with  tolerable 
success,  I  have  uniforndy  oijcned  tlie  Sunday  school  at  about  two 
o'clock,  occujiying  from  an  hour  to  an  liour  and  a  half  in  its  services. 
A  similar  period  was  tlien  devoted  to  tlie  adult  service.  The  regular 
attendance  of  chihlien  now  exceeds  twenty,  witli  several  devoted  and 
intelligent  teachers,  of  various  denominations  of  Christians.  Some  of 
these  are  members  of  churches.  A  large  ])roportion  of  the  cliildren 
take  an  active  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  school ;  and  I  rejoice  in 
beholding  among  them  the  signs  of  (,'hristian  progress.  There  are 
from  ten  to  fifteen  more  who  attend  occasionally,  but  whom,  by  God's 
favor,  I  hope  to  be  jjermitted  to  enrol  ultimately  among  the  regular 
attendants  at  the  scliool. 

Tlie  prosperity  of  the  Sunday  sciiool  has  been  greatly  retarded  by 
the  want  of  a  library.  I  have  made  several  attempts  to  supply  this 
want,  but  without  success.  Were  I  able,  I  would  cheerfully  appropriate 
the  necessary  amount  from  my  own  income.  I  do  not  therefore  hesi- 
tate to  ask  your  Society  for  an  apjiropriation  of  from  twenty-five  to 
thirty  dollars  for  tliis  purpose,  if  your  funds  arc  not  all  otherwise 
2 


10 


(K. 


I 


If 


I'i  ■-■ 


Vi 


I 


expended.  No  man  can  fully  conceive  the  amount  of  good  resulting 
from  such  a  library.  Blessed  is  he  who  devotes  his  money  to  such 
purposes.  The  books  would  be  read  in  many  a  family  who  are  now 
occupied  solely  in  earthly  pursuits.  They  would  tend  to  elevate ; 
to  give  nobler  thoughts ;  and  thus  produce  the  first  impulse  by  which 
ultimately  many  might  be  led  to  God.  I  ask  with  confidence  for 
this  ai)j)ropriation. 

My  services  for  adults  have  been  attended  by  congregations  varying 
from  ten  to  forty  persons.  The  average  attendance  exceeds  twenty. 
A  few  of  tiiesc  take  deep  interest  in  religious  subjects,  and  love  to 
converse  with  me  of  them.  Those  who  attend  my  services  arc  of  various 
sects :  there  are  among  them  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Calvinists, 
Ciiristians  (commonly  called  Campbcllitcs),  and  Univevsalists.  What 
is  the  prominent  result  of  their  thus  meeting  each  other,  Sunday  after 
Sunday,  in  friendly  greeting,  and  in  united  service  of  the  everlasting 
God  ?  I  need  only  advert  to  the  fact  to  show  its  harmonizing  process. 
The  barriers  of  sectarianism  are  thus  overturned,  and  the  glad  freedom 
of  Christ  triumphs  in  bringing  hearts  into  closer  contact.  I  feel 
assured  that  the  work  here  is  blessed  of  the  Father,  and  that  it  will 
be  so  in  eternity.  And  yet  I  should  feel  ashamed  were  I  to  convey  the 
impression,  that  I  am  doing,  or  am  the  instrument  of,  any  great  work, 
when  compared  with  that  of  any  faithful  Christian  minister. 

In  addition  to  the  above  services,  I  have  preached  occasionally  at 
another  point,  a  few  miles  from  Quincy,  during  the  week-day  evenings  ; 
but  not  exceeding  three  or  four  times. 

I  remain  your  servant  in  Christ, 

M.  D'Laxge. 


From  our  well-known  friend,  and  assiduous  laborer  in 
the  gospel,  Rev.  Augustus  H.  Conant :  — 


Geneva,  Kane  County,  Illinois,  Oct.  7,  1848. 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  submitting  to  your  Society  a  report  of  my  labors 
thus  far  for  the  current  year,  I  am  not  able  to  exhibit  any  very  brilliant 
success,  or  show  of  great  results.  My  work  at  present  seems  more 
like  sowing  the  seed,  than  like  gathering  the  harvest.  '5ut  I  have 
not  been  without  encouragement. 

In  Geneva,  the  uniform  attendance  upon  public  worship  has  grad- 
ually increased,   and   the   harmony   of  Christian   feeling   has   been 


11 


I  resulting 
cy  to  such 
o  arc  now 
o  elevate ; 
!  by  which 
idcncc  for 


Is  twenty. 
d  love  to 
of  various 
Calvinists, 
ts.  What 
nday  after 
jverlasting 
ig  process, 
id  freedom 
t.  I  feel 
lat  it  will 
convey  the 
reat  work, 

ionally  at 


iANGE. 


jorer  in 


1848. 
ny  labors 
^  brilliant 
3ms  more 
it  I  have 

las  grad- 
las   been 


3 


uninterrupted.     Two  Sunday  schools  have  been  sustained ;  one  by 
our  own  society,  and  one  by  the  Methodists. 

In  Elgin,  the  attendance  upon  worship  is  small ;  but  wc  have  com- 
pleted our  meeting-house,  and  are  free  from  debt,  and  hope  for 
improvement. 

During  tlic  summer,  I  preached  Sunday  forenoon  in  Geneva,  and 
afternoon  in  Elgin ;  but  expect,  for  the  next  six  months,  to  preach  in 
each  place  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  In  June  I  attended  the  Cole  Creek 
Christian  Conference,  in  Fountain  County,  Indiana,  and  put  in  circu- 
lation, daring  the  tour,  'J2  volumes  of  books,  and  300  tracts ;  also,  in 
the  same  month,  the  Nortliern  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  Christian  Con- 
ference, and  made  some  arrangements  for  aiding  in  the  formation  of 
Sunday-school  libraries  in  several  places. 

I  have  received,  during  the  year,  from  Boston  and  New  York,  254 
volumes  of  books  for  adults,  and  ;300  volumes  of  Sunday-school  books  ; 
total,  554  volumes  of  books,  and  890  tracts.  From  the  circulation  of 
these  books  and  tracts,  I  hope  for  good  results.  A  large  proportion 
of  the  religious  reading  matter  in  circulation  is  not  very  well  suited 
to  promote  universal  charity,  and  much  of  what  is  called  "  the  light 
literature  of  the  day  "  is  unquestionably  pernicious  in  its  moral  effects. 
The  call  for  books  of  a  more  fraternal  religious  spirit,  and  of  a  more 
serious  and  improving  character,  is  especially  urgent ;  and  I  have 
felt  happy  to  do  even  a  little  in  answer  to  this  call. 

I  have  continued  to  bestow  some  attention  to  the  improvement  and 
elevation  of  common  schools,  and  have  been  happy  to  observe  a  grow- 
ing interest  in  the  community  upon  this  important  subject.  I  have 
frjquent  solicitations  to  visit  new  fields  of  labor  in  destitute  neigh- 
borhoods, and  to  some  of  these  calls  I  hope  to  attend  in  the  course  of 
the  year. 

To  those  who  have  assisted,  in  various  ways,  my  endeavors  to 
promote  the  interests  of  humanity  and  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel, 
I  feel  the  most  fervent  gratitude ;  and,  for  the  liberal  appropriation 
of  your  Society  for  my  support  the  present  year,  I  would  tender  my 
most  thankful  acknowledgments.  May  the  blessing  of  God  continue 
to  attend  and  rest  upon  your  labors  for  the  propagation  of  the  gospel ! 
Very  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 

Augustus  H.  Conant. 

We  now  come  to  the  correspondence  of  our  missionary, 
Rev.  George  W.  Woodward,  who  has  for  a  considerable 


I' 

I 


12 


1^ 


period  been  ministering  among  the  miners,  and  other 

destitute  persons  in  Galena,  Savanna,  and  other  places 

in  Illinois. 

Galena,  Illinois,  15th  April,  1848. 

Dear  Sir,  —  It  gives  mc  pleasure,  in  this  my  re<i;ular  semi-annual 
report  to  you,  to  be  able  to  give  you  a  better  account  of  my  missionary 
labors,  and  to  do  it  myself,  and  not  by  an  amanuensis 

I  have  been  to  Savanna  regularly  every  fourth  Sunday,  and  believe, 
with  God's  blessing,  am  doing  decided  good  tliere.  ^ly  congregations 
are  constant  and  attentive,  —  a  roomful ;  and  a  steady,  religious 
influence  is  exerted  ;  the  better,  indeed,  as  some  preachers  who 
come  there  have  so  spoken  that  they  arc  accused  of  wishing  to  make 
jNIetliodists  and  Presbyterians,  rather  than  Christians.  I  receive  the 
credit  of  a  Chrintian  minister.  By  tlie  most  influential  man  there,  as 
well  as  others,  I  have  been  asked  if  there  was  any  hope,  that  a  clergy- 
man of  similar  views  and  character  could  be  obtained  for  them,  and 
for  such  compensation  as  would  be  within  their  means.  I  was  not 
able  to  encourage  the  idea,  and  only  mention  it  as  an  indication  of  the 
effects  produced 

In  consequence  of  our  not  being  able  to  rise  the  room  here,  in 
Galena,  all  the  time  (for  we  can  have  it  but  every  other  Sunday),  I  have 
had  another  Sunday  in  each  month  for  your  service,  which  I  have  regu- 
larly spent,  with  two  or  three  other  days,  in  Dubuque  and  vicinity.  My 
congregations  there  have  been  very  good,  made  up  mostly  of  miners,  and 
sceptical  young  men.  I  have  preached  and  lectured  there  regularly 
all  winter,  in  a  church  belonging  to  a  destitute  Christian  (Campbell- 
ite)  society.  I  humbly  believe  that  I  have  done  some  good,  and  know 
that  I  have  induced  some  to  think  who  have  thought  little  before.  One 
of  these  who  are  in  the  process  of  Christian  conversion,  in  distinction 
from  sectarian,  said  the  other  day,  that  it  was  objected  to  him  against 
me,  that  I  "  abused  no  sect,  and  that  it  was  a  part  of  my  religion  to 
traduce  no  fellow-Christians  ;  "  —  to  me  a  new  argument  against  us. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Gko.  VV.  Woodwarb. 

Again,  Mr.  Woodward  writes :  — 

Galena,  Illinois,  16th  October,  1848. 

Dear  Sir,  — I  have  regularly  ministered  at  Savanna,  near 

this  place,  since  my  last.     I  believe,  with  Heaven's  blessing,  that  I 


- 


13 


id  other 
?r  places 

I,  1848. 

;mi-annual 

missionary 

id  believe, 
grcgutions 
religious 
;hers  who 
J  to  make 
eceive  the 
1  there,  as 
;  a  clergy- 
thcm,  and 
t  was  not 
ion  of  tlie 

.  here,  in 
y),  I  have 
ave  regu- 
nity.  My 
iners,  and 
regularly 
-"ainpbcll- 
ind  know 
re.  One 
istinction 
n  against 
Jligion  to 
inst  us. 

ODWAKD, 


1848. 
ina,  near 
g,  that  I 


am  considered  useful ;  and,  while  others  who  come  hither  are  laboring 
to  build  up  their  sects,  I  am  considc-'d  as  striving  to  make  C'liris- 
tians.  They  seem  to  value  my  services,  and  wisli  me  to  continue. 
IJcsidcs  my  regular  visits  to  Savanna,  I  have  preached  several  times  at 
points  within  reach  of  this  place,  and  am  assured  that  many  who  sel- 
dom, and  almost  never,  hear  the  sound  of  gospel  preaching  have  heard 
it  from  my  lips.  Perhaps  a  grain  of  seed  may  have  been  dropped  in 
places  where  it  has  never  been  or  very  little  sown,  and  it  may  fructify 
and  eventually  bear  fruit. 

Bo  assured  I  never  let  pass  an  opportunity  to  go  and  speak  in  the 
name  and  behalf  of  your  Society  ;  and  there  are  not  a  few,  in  this 
region.  Mho  have  learned  to  know  and  bless  it. 

Yours  truly  in  Christian  fellowshi]), 

Gi;o.  W.  WooDw.vui). 

From  the  Rev.  AVilliam  P.  Huntington,  having  charge 
of  a  congregational  church  in  INlilwaukie,  ^V'isconsin, 
and  employed  by  our  Society  as  a  missionary  for  desti- 
tute persons  in  its  vicinity,  we  have  received,  as  usuid, 
a  full  and  copious  account  of  liis  labors  within  that  vast 
and  rapidly  increasing  territory. 

From  his  first  letter  we  select  the  following  extracts :  — 

MiLWAUKii;,  April  17,  1848. 
Dear  Sir,  —  ....  ]\Iy  labors  have,  since  the  date  of  my  last  com- 
munication, been  steadily  continued ;   and  those  plans  of  usefulness 

uninterruptedly  pursued,  with  one  or  two  slight  modifications 

I  have  devoted  a  part  <  f  the  Lord's  day  to  visiting  our  city  prison, 
conversing  with  the  convicts,  praying  with  them,  and  instructing  them 
in  Christianity.     These  visits  have  been  continued  each  Sunday,  at 

the  close  of  the  second  service  in  our  church Our  Sunday  school 

numbers  some  forty  pupils,  and  I  am  myself  its  superintendent.  The 
scholars  are  generally  present  to  the  number  of  at  least  thirty ;  and 
the  teachers  are  efficient,  and  make  their  labors  highly  interesting 
and  useful  to  the  children.  A  friend  belonging  to  the  parish,  who 
has  sent  four  children  to  the  school  from  a  distance  of  three  miles  in 
the  country,  through  the  whole  winter  and  spring,  without  the  loss  of 
more  than  a  Sabbath  or  two,  and  that  from  sickness,  has  declared  to 


u 


mo  that  lio  would  consider  the  benefits  to  be  derived  from  our  Sunday 
school  in  the  course  of  one  ycur  worth  fully  as  much,  thou|^h  in  a 
somewhat  different  way,  as  three  months'  schoolinif  in  a  ^ood  com- 
mon scliool.  Others,  too,  manifest  such  an  appreciation  of  our  humble 
labors  as  highly  to  encourage  us ;  and  we  have  several  children  whose 
parents  belong  to  another  religious  society. 

Our  audiences  at  the  regular  meetings,  on  the  Sunday  mornings 
and  evenings,  have  exhibited  a  very  large  increase  within  a  month  past ; 
but  I  am  inclined  to  set  down  the  increase  to  occasional  and  inci- 
dental causes.  May  the  Head  of  the  church  grant  us  that  increase, 
without  which  a  Paul  might  plant,  and  an  Apollos  water,  in  vain  !  .  .  . 
I  remain  yours,  very  faithfully, 

W.M.  P.  HUNTINGTOX. 


1^ 


Again,  Mr.  Huntington  Avritcs :  — 

MiLWAUKIE,  Oct.  10,  1818. 

Dear  Sir,  —  ....  There  are  not  a  few,  as  you  are  probably  aware,  of 
the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  the  country  in  our  State  ;  some  born  west 
of  the  Great  Ijakcs,  others  transplanted  hither  from  the  Indian  reserva- 
tions in  New  York  and  the  neighboring  States.  But  there  are  none 
that  have  any  considerable  settlements  nearer  this  place  than  the  Great 
]\Iuskcgo  Lake,  fifteen  miles  distant.  There  are  many  fragmentary 
bands  of  Indians  scattered  over  this  region  of  country,  but  of  such  no- 
madic habits  that  it  is  utterly  in  vain  to  aitenipt  to  gather  them  into 
schools  and  churches.  The  principal  haunts  of  the  native  Indians  of  this 
State  are  westward,  along  the  Wolf  Ilivcr,  towards  the  Mississippi ;  and 
these,  as  I  am  informed  by  the  family  of  the  government  agent,  arc 
principally  under  Catholic  influences,  so  far  as  they  acknowledge  any 
Christian  influence  Avhatever. 

As  for  my  own  more  appropriate  labors,  which  are  amongst  the 
religiously  destitute  of  this  city  and  near  vicinage,  I  find  the  field  con- 
stantly widening,  and,  amid  some  difficulties,  am  not  wholly  without 
tokens  of  success.  The  word  is  preached  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath, 
and  we  are  permitted  to  behold  some  encouraging  fruits  of  our  labors. 
For  details,  I  cannot  do  better  than  refer  you  to  my  communication  of 
last  April.  My  stated  preaching  continues  as  then;  and  I  have  held 
myself  in  readiness  to  answer  any  extraordinary  calls  for  occasional 
preaching,  or  other  missionary  service,  from  other  quarters ;  and  have 
answered  such  calls,  and  sliall  continue  to  answer  theni  as  often  as 


^a 


i 


i^ 


15 


mr  Sunday 
liou},'li  in  a 
good  com- 
ur  humble 
Ircn  wliosc 


'  mornings 
onth  past; 
and  inci- 
t  increase, 
vain !  .  .  . 


S'CTOX. 


'  aware,  of 
born  west 
n  rcscrva- 
arc  none 
the  Great 
gmentary 
'  such  no- 
tlicm  into 
ms  of  this 
ippi ;  and 
igent,  are 
iedge  any 

•ngst  the 
field  con- 
'  without 
Sabbath, 
ir  labors, 
cation  of 
lavc  hold 
ccasional 
md  ha\c 
often  as 


they  are  made.  The  standard  of  pulpit  performances  in  the  congrega- 
tion to  which  I  minister  every  liord's  day.  in  this  city,  is  such  as  docs 
not  permit  the  incumbent,  whoever  he  may  be  for  the  time,  to  slumber 
on  his  post,  or  to  spend  the  greatest  part  of  his  time  in  preaching 
from  house  to  house.  So  far  as  my  public  duties  allow  me  opi)ortunity, 
1  make  it  a  part  of  my  daily  work  to  accpiaint  myself  with  those 
families  which  I  find  without  other  religious  instruction,  and  to  connect 
myself  with  such  as  their  religious  friend  and  minister. 

I  cannot  close  this  somewhat  desultory  communication  without  again 
acknowledging  the  honor  and  tlie  happiness  of  being  entrusted, 
unworthy  as  I  am,  with  the  dispensation  of  the  precious  gospel,  and 
of  holding  a  commission  as  a  soldier  of  the  cross  from  your  ancient 
Society.  It  is  my  highest  ambition  to  a])provc  myself  not  wholly 
unworthy  of  this  important  trust  to  the  Head  of  the  church,  and  to 
the  respected  members  of  the  association,  of  which  you  arc  the  organ. 
I  remain,  with  the  highest  esteem. 

Yours  very  truly, 

W.  P.  HUXTIXGXON, 

Koprcscntations  having  been  made  to  the  Committee 
of  the  destitute  spiritual  condition  of  the  people  in  va- 
rious settlements  within  the  State  of  ^Michigan ;  and  the 
Kev.  T.  C.  Adam,  favorably  known  in  this  vicinity  as  an 
evangelist,  having  already  undertaken  the  charge  of  a 
church  in  IManchester  in  that  State ;  it  was  recommended 
to  the  Society,  that  an  appropriation  be  made  in  aid  of 
i  his  services  among  the  destitute  in  that  vicinity.  The 
appropriation  was  granted ;  and  it  will  appear  from  the 
following  letter,  with  what  readiness  of  spirit  Mr.  Adam 
entered  upon  his  work,  and  how  ample  is  the  field  for 
missionary  labor,  not  for  one  only,  but  for  multitudes, 
in  that  rapidly  advancing  portion  of  our  country. 

Clintox,  Michigan,  Oct.  10,  184S. 
Rev.  and  respected  Sir,  —  Your  favor  of  June  3,  informing  me   of 
my  appointment  as  a  missionary  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the 


,'1.' 


y 


III 


V  "i- 


H 


,/ii 


16 


(iospcl,  iVc.  was  truly  j^ratifyinff  to  many  wlio  are  deeply  sensible  of 
the  spiritual  destitution  of  Miclii;j;an,  as  of  other  portions  of  the  West, 
and  who  desire  to  see  order,  intelligence,  Christian  morality,  and  the 
f^ospel  in  its  purity,  promoted  in  this  region.  Iilany  here  are  deeply 
impressed  witli  the  contrast  as  to  all  tliese  interests  between  onr  new 
settlements  at  the  West,  and  onr  old  settlements  in  New  Knj^land  ; 
between  the  condition,  social  and  reli|j;ious,  of  Michigan,  and  that  of 
Massachusetts ;  and  arc  sincerely  gratified  by  the  hopes  of  any  addi- 
tion to  the  means  at  present  })ossessed  for  lifting  up  our  pojjulation  to 
a  condition  more  nearly  approximating  to  that  of  these  older  settle- 
ments. We  trust  your  appointment  of  a  missionary  in  Michigan  will 
be  an  instrumentality,  witli  the  blessing  of  Heaven,  productive  of  much 
spiritual  fruit 

Vour  letter  found  me  laboring  in  the  Avork  of  the  ministry  for  a 
small  but  growing  society  of  disciples  of  Jesus,  in  the  town  and  village 
of  Manchester.  During  the  winter  and  spring,  I  had  preached  to  them 
on  alternate  Sabbaths  gratuitously,  or  as  a  contribution  of  aid  and 
encouragement  towards  completing  a  meeting-house  which  tliey  had 
undertaken.  Since  that,  I  have  preached  ei-ery  Sabbath,  and  most 
part  of  the  time  in  the  new  meeting-house,  although  not  entirely  fin- 
ished. This  society  has  made  quite  praiseworthy  exertions,  for  several 
years  past,  both  in  the  way  of  sustaining  public  worship,  and  in  build- 
ing a  church  edifice.  For  their  numbers  they  have  done  well ;  and  . 
their  conduct  in  this  respect,  together  with  their  cxemjdary  Christian 
life,  has  served  to  increase  the  respect  and  esteem  in  which  most  of 
them  were  previously  held  as  citizens.  The  time  is  not  remote,  •when 
the  Society  will  be  in  a  condition  to  support  itself,  and  maintain  the 
regular  ministration  of  the  word  and  ordinances 

We  have  had  for  some  time  a  liible-class  in  operation  ;  and  some 
preliminary  steps  have  been  taken  towards  settling  a  church  constitu- 
tion and  covenant,  and  organizing  a  church  of  Christ  on  Christian 
foundations.  Our  Sabbath  school  will  commence  as  soon  as  the  house 
is  completed,  and  a  Sabbath-school  library  obtained ;  both  of  which 
events  will  transpire,  we  trust,  in  the  course  of  a  few  weeks 

As  to  other  fields  of  labor,  I  suppose  your  Society  intends  that 
I  should  be  regulated  by  my  own  best  judgment  and  discretion.  I 
presume  I  am  expected  to  give  my  services  wherever  most  good  can  be 
done  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  in  the  way  of  propagating  his  gospel. 
I  shall  so  consider  my  appointment,  unless  notified  to  the  contrary. 
At  the  same  time,  I  shall  be  duly  regulated  by  the  consideration,  that 


■i 


I 


4 


17 


sonsiblo  of 
f  tlie  West, 
ty,  and  tlio 

arc  deeply 
m  our  new 
'  l''in<^land  ; 
ind  that  of 
:'  any  addi- 
l)ulation  to 
Idcr  scttle- 
[•liijfan  will 
ve  of  much 

istry  for  a 
and  village 
icd  to  them 
of  aid  and 
h  they  had 
,  and  most 
ntircly  fin- 
for  several 
d  in  build- 
well  ;   and  . 

Christian 
h  most  of 
lote,  when 
intain  the 

and  some 
I  constitu- 

Christian 
the  house 
1  of  wiiich 

ends  that 
rction.  I 
)od  can  be 
is  gospel, 
contrary, 
tion,  that 


I 
i 

1 


the  mere  planting  of  a  society,  or  temporary  proclamation  of  the  gospel, 
is  of  less  real  benefit  to  the  cause  of  Christ,  and  the  evangelizing  of 
the  world,  than  the  watering  and  watching  wliich  lulp  onward  to  self- 
supporting  maturity,  and  make   an  important  location   a    centre    of 

Clu'istian  influences 

I  am,  very  faithfully,  your  obliged  servant  and  fellow-laborer, 

T.  C.  Adam. 

The  coiulition  oF  tlio  people  of"  Standish,  and  of  its 
iu'ighl)oring  settlements,  Kast  Standisli,  West  (jorliam, 
&c.  havinc:  been  commnnicated  to  tlie  Societv,  it  was 
unanimously  voted,  that  the  Rev.  Mi'.  Gerry,  already  the 
pastor  of  the  congregational  church  in  Standish,  should 
be  authorized  to  act,  during  the  year,  as  our  missionary 
to  his  destitute  vicinity,  lie  entered  upon  his  mission 
the  first  of  June  last;  and  Ave  have  received  from  him  the 
following  account  of  his  services :  — 

Staxdisu,  Oct.  IG,  iStS. 

....  I  take  this  opportunity  to  spread  before  your  Society  the 
labors  which  1  have  performed  during  tlic  short  time  that  I  have  been 
in  its  service.  It  will  be  five  months,  the  first  of  November,  only 
since  I  received  my  appointment ;  and  it  will  not  be  expected  of  me  to 
give  a  very  full  report  at  this  time. 

In  addition  to  missionary  labor,  I  have  devoted  much  attention 
to  my  parish ;  and  I  am  able  to  give  a  cheering  report  of  our  pro- 
gress. I  believe  that  the  prospects  of  our  society  were  never  more 
flattering  than  at  the  present  time.  The  attendance  at  church  has 
very  much  increased  within  the  last  three  or  four  months.  This 
increase  of  numbers  is  the  result  of  an  interest  which  has  been  awa- 
kened in  the  society,  through  the  efforts  which  have  been  made  by  its 
members  to  establish  an  academy  in  the  town.  My  society,  feeling 
the  need  of  a  more  commodious  house  of  worship,  and  also  feeling  the 
need  of  an  academy  in  the  place,  conceived  the  plan  of  so  altering 
•our  meeting-house  that  it  might  answer  for  both  the  above-named 
purposes.  This  plan  has  been  executed.  The  lower  part  is  now  occu- 
pied as  a  church  ;  the  upper  part  is  used  as  an  academy.  I  mention 
3 


1» 


li>' 


'r 


i 


1) 


this  that  I  may  have  the  opportunity  of  saying,  that  this  institution  i« 
likely  to  exert  an  excellent  influence  upon  tlie  youth  of  this  ])l.iee,  as 
it  has  opened  to  them  advantaj^es  lor  eilueation  whleh  they  have  never 
before  been  enabled  to  enjoy,  owinj;  to  the  low  state  of  education  in 
this  town.  And  to  show  you  tint  these  new  educational  lulvantages 
are  in  some  deforce  ai)preciated,  I  have  only  to  mention  the  interesting 
fact,  that  fifty-nine  pupils  are  now  enjoyiuf^  its  privile<;es ;  two-thirds 
of  this  number  being  youth  belonging  to  Standish,  The  school  is 
under  the  direction  of  two  able  and  accomplished  teachers,  graduates 
of  Uowdoin  College. 

I  have  at  my  house,  every  Sabbath  evening,  a  meeting  for  religious 
conversation  and  improvement,  which  is  fully  attended.  Our  Sunday 
school  is  in  very  good  condition. 

In  addition  to  parish  duties  and  other  labors,  I  have  performed 
missionary  labor  at  East  Standish  and  at  West  Gorhum. 

I  have  preached  at  East  Standish,  but  am  not  able  to  give  so  en- 
couraging a  report  of  my  labors  in  this  j)lace  as  I  could  desire.  I 
have  not  yet  given  the  place  a  fair  trial  ;  but  I  intend  to  do  it 
soon.  It  is,  however,  a  hard  field  for  missionary  labor.  A  minister 
of  the  Methodist  denomination  has  preached  in  this  village  during  the 
past  summer  a  part  of  the  time,  but  has  now  left  this  field  of  labor 
for  sonie  other. 

I  have  been  to  West  Gorham,  and  have  held  religious  services  a.s 
often  as  twice  a  mouth  since  my  appointment.  Most  of  these  services 
have  been  held  Sunday  afternoon,  after  I  had  preached  two  sermons 
to  my  people  of  Standish.  In  one  instance,  however,  I  preached  all 
day  at  Gorham,  my  pulpit  being  supplied  at  home.  I  have  not 
preached  to  the  people  of  this  village,  without  feeling  that  my  labors 
were  blessed  to  their  good.  My  audience  in  this  place  averages  about 
sixty,  and  I  have  had  an  audience  of  eighty.  What  makes  this  field 
of  labor  particularly  interesting  to  me  is  the  fact,  that  quite  a  large 
number  of  my  hearers  arc  young  men ;  and,  besides,  the  people  generally 
manifest  a  good  deal  of  interest  in  Christian  institutions.  They  need 
a  meeting-house  very  much,  and  the  propriety  of  building  one  has 
been  suggested.  Religious  services  are  now  held  in  the  village  school- 
house.  A  Sunday  school  is  in  operation  in  the  village,  which  is 
doing  much  good.  I  have  encouraged  this  school  both  by  word  and 
deed.  It  is  my  intention  to  preach  several  Sabbaths  at  both  of  these 
places,  during  the  year. 


19 


ititution  in 
pl.icr,  as 
1.1  \('  never 
iieation  in 
idvantai^es 
iiiteri'stiiij^ 
two-tliirds 
selioul  is 
t,'ra{luates 

r  religious 
iir  Sunday 

performed 

ive  so  en- 
desire.  I 
I  to  do  it 
\  minister 
duriiii;  the 
d  of  labor 

scrviees  as 
!se  services 
0  sermons 
•eached  all 

have  not 
my  labors 
a<fcs  about 
s  this  field 
ite  a  large 
3  generally 
rhey  need 
g  one  has 
ge  school- 
,  which  is 

word  and 
h  of  tlicse 


lIopln;{  tiiat  tins  report  of  my  labors,  during  the  short  time  I  havo 
been  engngcd  as  a  mission.iry  of  your  society,  will  be  satisfactory, 

1  remain  your  obedient  servant, 

K. .].  Gkkry. 

Tlio  ('oiKUtioii  of  V'c'inoii,  liOydrn,  and  othtT  places  in 
the  vicinity,  on  tlie  frontiers  of  the  State,  has  continued 
to  call  for  tile  aid  of  the  Society.  Since  the  death  of  the 
lamented  jSfr.  Koj^ers,  the  llev.  \.  Brid<j;e  and  th(;  Rev. 
Addison  IJrown  haAe  suc(;eeded  to  his  missionary  work 
in  those  places.  'J'lu'y  have  each  spent  several  Sundays 
of  the  past  year  anioiij^'  the  people ;  and  though  amidst 
discouragiiif^  as[>e(;ts,  in  part  from  the  prevalence  of 
int(.'mperance,  and  corresponding;  indifference  to  the  in- 
stitutions of  relif^ion,  yet  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  labors 
of  these  gentlemen,  and  the  remembrance  of  ministries 
that  have  ceased,  will  not  be  in  vain. 

Physically  (says  Mr.  Brown,  in  a  letter  from  Rrattleborough,  Oct. 
28,  1818),  Vernon  is  a  delightful  place;  the  land  fertile,  the  scenery 
beautiful.  Intellectually  and  morally,  it  has  been  improving  of  late 
years,  but  is  suscejjtible  of  mucli  farther  progress.  Rum  has  been  a 
great  curse  to  tlie  place ;  but  the  temperance  cause  has  made  some 
impression,  and  has  done,  we  trust,  some  good.     There  are  excellent 

people  in  the  town There  is  a  place  within  the  town  of  Uum- 

merston,  in  the  same  vicinity,  where  I  have  been  desired  to  preach, 
and  where  undeniably  some  quickening  religious  influences  are  needed; 
for  rum  has  done  its  sad  work  there.  1  shall  endeavor  to  meet  such 
calls,  and  to  perform  the  service  expected  of  me  by  your  Society  to 
the  best  of  my  ability. 


The  Committee  now  pass  to  the  second  class  of  appro- 
priations, viz.  those  made  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians. 

Of  these  it  will  be  remembered,  that  two  hundred 
dollars  have,  since  1846,  been  devoted  to  the  aid  of  the 


20 


education  of  two  promisinjj;  liidiiin  youtlis,  in  tiu'  Albion 
Seminary  in  Micljifjfun.  These  youn<j^  men  aijpciir  tims 
fur  to  have  been  tiiithf'ul  to  their  privih-j^es,  pvin;,'  prom- 
ise of  fjfood  ^ifts  and  of  moral  and  intellectual  improve- 
ment. Hut  from  letters  just  received  from  the  bite  aj^ent 
of  that  institution,  Hev.  Ueeder  Smith,  we  learn  that 
one  of  these  younj;  men,  Samuel  Kirkland,  has  so  far 
accomplished  the  ])nrposes  of  his  education  "  as  to  have 
become  an  interi)reter  at  tiie  mission  amonjj;  the  Potta- 
watamies  in  Michigan,  and  is  very  i)ious  and  useful; 
but  we  rcf^ret  to  add,  tluit  the  other,  John  Sarj^ent, 
"  with  a  fine  and  improvinj,'  mind,  is  now  lingering  with 
consumption  at  the  mission  from  which  he  came,  and 
often  gives  utterance  to  his  grief,  that  be  has  been  com- 
pelled to  leave  school,  without  a  prospect  of  returning 


agani. 


Whether  the  Society  sliall  see  fit  to  adopt  other  Indian 
youths  in  the  place  of  these,  thus  by  different  causes 
removed  from  their  care;  and  wlieth(>r  tlie  Albion  or  tlie 
Lawrence  Institution,  recently  establislicd  in  AN'isconsin, 
shall  be  made  the  medium  of  its  cliarity  for  this  purpose, 
must  bu  reserved  for  its  future  decision. 


I 


The  Indians  of  Marsbpec  and  of  Herring  Tond,  with- 
in our  own  commonwealth,  have  now  for  many  years 
engaged  the  attention  and  the  assistance  of  the  Society. 
In  aid  of  the  services  of  their  pastor  and  teacher,  Hev. 
J^hincas  Fish,  annual  a[)pro[)riati()ns  have  been  made; 
which,  together  with  a  small  income  derived  under  the  will 
of  JJev.  Daniel  Williams,  of  London,  in  trust  with  the  cor- 
poration of  Harvard  College,  constitute  his  support. 


•21 


Allnon 
[iir  tliiiH 
■'•  j)roiu- 
inpiovf- 
|('  a^'ont 
vn  tlidt 

!so  fur 

to  hiivo 

;  Pot  tu- 

uscfiil ; 

'iirjn^ont, 

v^  with 

nc,  and 

Ml  com- 

tuniiii<,' 

■  Indian 
rauses 
1  or  tlio 
■iconsin, 
iirposo, 


1,  witli- 
>  yours 
society, 
r,  Kev. 
made  ; 
he  will 
ho  cor- 
t. 


4 


From  "Slv.  Fish  wi  liiivo  rocoivod  the  fnllouin";  docu- 
niont,  i)r('st'ntod  as  u  rrport  of  his  mission  fur  tiic  ])ast 
your,  and  containing  ^ouio  intorostiuj;  details,  hotii  in 
ro<,'ar(l  to  tiie  secidar  and  spiritual  condition  of  the  [)eo- 
pk'  union^'  whom  lie  hiis  so  hmy;  liihored:  — 

Cim  IT,  Oif    I'd.  ISIS. 

Dear  Sir,  —  In  niviiii;  you,  an  you  rcqucstod,  Homu  (k'scriptiDU  of 
the  coiiclitioii  and  cliaractor  of  tlic  IiidianH,  and  also  my  own  lahoiM 
ivnionj,'  tluMu,  I  will  Mrst  hi'.nin  willi  the  Indians  ol'  Marshpcc.  'I'liis 
tribe  contains  al)oiit  three  hundri'd  and  lit'ty  •-oids,  ol'  whom  not  more 
than  six  or  ei;^lit  are  ot'  pure  Indian  hlood.  in  most,  liowcMr,  tiie 
Indian  blood  prevails.  They  hold  ten  or  eleven  thousanil  acres  of  land, 
divided  lately  in  severalty,  ^'ivin;;,'  to  eacii  proprietor  sixty  acres,  leaving 
u  reserve  of  parsonage  and  conunon  land  lur  exigences.  Ily  disposing 
of  the  growth  of  wood  on  the  parsonage,  they  have  a  fund  of  six  or 
seven  thousand  dollars,  tlie  income  from  whicli,  with  some  rents  of 
Halt  marshes,  *.V.c.  affords  the  means  of  defraying  the  current  exjuMises 
of  their  government.  This  income,  if  husbanded,  will  be  sufllcient  for 
this  pur))ose  in  periietuity. 

For  suppm't  of  schools,  they  are  aided  from  the  State  school-fund, 
and  also  the  surplus  revenue,  sutKcicnt,  with  what  tliey  can  do,  to 
employ  two  good  teachers  the  v,  iiole  year.  The  schools  average  nine 
montlis,  having  al)out  fifty  in  botli,  in  which  they  accpiire  the  rudiments 
of  knowledge  ;  and  some  of  tliem  are  bright  sclndars.  and  would  be 
much  more  advanced  if  the  adult  population  took  a  more  lively  Interest 
in  literature.  Iloth  schools  were  taught  last  winter  l)y  two  young 
men  of  color,  who  acipilttcd  themselves  very  well.  They  have,  for  the 
most  part,  clu)sen  to  have  wliite  teachers  of  the  same  grade  with  those 
of  the  surrounding  white  schools. 

As  to  the  supi)ort  of  religious  institutions  among  tliem,  they  are 
indebted  to  tlie  \\'illiams  I'und,  in  the  care  of  the  liiiversity  (having 
been  obliged,  for  want  of  skill  in  managing  their  means,  to  devote  their 
parsonage-allotment  to  secular  puriioses),  by  means  of  which  they  can 
support  a  minister  most  of  the  time.  There  may  be  as  many  as  thirty 
substantial  members  of  the  church,  of  different  denominations,  among 
whom  there  is  more  harmony  than  formerly,  much  less  stress  being  laid 
upon  peculiarities,  conducing  evidently  to  religions  advancement.  1 
find  all  classes  much  more  accessible  than  formerly.     \'isits  are  well 


II 


1 


ivcL'is  L'd  from  nic  ;  and  your  bounty  to  ni\  .>cll  is  of  nuiteriul  advantage, 
enabling  me  to  devote  myself  to  this  essential  mode  of  familiar  teaching, 
inilucing  them  at  the  same  time  to  attend  more  uniformly  to  the 
public  means  of  instruction.  There  is  improvement  on  the  score  of 
temi)erance.  The  most  prominent  causes  of  failure  are  a  want  of  in- 
dustry, improviilence,  tendency  to  intemperance,  and  a  neglect  of 
tlieir  lands,  which  take  thcni  much  from  home,  and,  of  course,  in- 
terrupt settled  plans  for  their  intellectual  ami  moral  improvement. 
Vet  they  ought  to  rise  ;  anil  1  am  persuaded,  that,  with  the  exercise  of 
some  patience  with  tlieni,  they  must  rise,  after  a  time,  to  something 
more  considerable.  They  have  been  injured  by  abruptly  giving  them 
the  management  of  their  own  affairs,  in  cgnsequence  of  which,  a  great 
amount  ol'j)roperty  has  been  dissipated  ;  and  individuals,  of  course,  are 
liable  to  much  sulfering  in  case  of  any  mishaj).  Under  the  ancient 
guardianship,  a  strict  supervision  was  had  of  the  property,  public  and 
private.  The  people  were  thrown  more  on  their  own  exertions,  by  wliich 
habits  of  industry  were  better  promoted  ;  and  then,  in  case  of  distress, 
means  of  relief  were  always  in  reserve.  It  is  much  otherwise  now ; 
aiul  the  pleasure  of  visiting  them  is  much  abated,  in  being  obliged  to 
witness  destitution  and  suffering  which  I  can  neither  relieve  myself,  nor 
procure,  as  formerly,  the  means  of  relief  from  a  public  source. 

2.  The  Herring  Pond  Indians,  on  the  borders  of  Plymouth  township, 
are,  on  the  wlu)le,  in  a  more  desirable  situation.  Though  preferring 
to  remain  under  guardiansliip,  they  enjoy  more  of  the  essentials  of 
liberty  and  self-control,  and  manifest  decided  improvement  and  eleva- 
tion of  character.  They  number  from  fifty  to  sixty  indiviihials,  having 
a  location  of  about  two  thousand  acres  of  land,  having  also  about  two 
thousand  dollars  in  reserve,  which  is  increasing  under  the  good  manage- 
ment of  their  guardian,  Charles  Marston,  Esq.  tSheritf  of  ]5arnstai)le 
County.  Their  poor  are  well  provided  for ;  excellent  medical  means 
are  provided  by  the  year,  and  a  watchful  supervision  is  had  over  the 
young.  Tliere  is  a  good  degree  of  family  order.  They  have  some 
twenty  promising  cliildren,  well  clad  anil  disciplined.  They  have  a 
good  school  three  quarters  of  the  year,  marked  by  decided  improve- 
ment, and  sustained  by  a  lively  interest  both  of  parents  and  children. 
Their  prevailing  character  is  that  of  sobriety,  industry,  economy,  a 
proper  self-respect,  and  withal  a  dis])osition  to  appreciate  religious 
means  eqiuiUy  with  their  white  neighbours  :  giving  promise,  that  your 
bounty  bestowed  on  them  will  Ijc  followed  with  substantial  fruits,  and 
returns  of  unfeigned  gratitude. 


I 


^;} 


liiitagf, 


S.ihbiUli-sc'hool  instnicllon  is,  as  usual,  duly  atteiulcd  to  at  l)()tli 
places.  Of  tlic  iJiopcr  .Marslipoe  Sal)l)ath  school  uudcr  the  care  of 
the  IJaptist  minister,  I  am  not  so  partictdarly  informed  as  I  intended, 
owinjj;  to  his  not  residiiiLi;  ainouL;'  them  at  present ;  hut  I  am  eontiik'nt 
they  attempt  Sahljatli-sehool  and  iill)le-elass  instruction.  At  Jlerrint,^ 
I'ond,  they  have  a  smidl  library  which  interests  the  children  ;  some  of 
tlie  elder  younj,^  people  take  classes  :  the  parents  in  turn  superintend  ; 
and  there  seems  to  he  a  th(u-ou}j;hncss  and  interest  which  I  feel  con- 
fident must  be  ])r()iitahlc.  At  Cotuit,  we  have  a  school  of  forty,  and 
in  the  eveninj^  of  the  Sahhath,  alternately  with  a  preaching;  meeting, 
a  Bible-class  exercise;  both  of  which,  attended  in  ])art  by  colored 
peojjle,  have  been  evidently  blessed  to  the  diffusion  of  Scripture  light 
in  years  past;  and,  to  tliis  day,  sevi'ral,  whom  T  couhl  mention,  have 
in  a  dying  hour  referred  to  instruction  thus  received  as  deciiledly  the 
means  of  their  illumination  and  Christian  hope. 

]}ut,  though  tliere  luis  been  no  remission  of  usual  zeal  and  diligence 

in  the  use  of  means  this  year,  and  a  very  few  have  manifested  serious 

impressions,  1  am  truly  concerned  to  be  obliged  to  say  no  accessions 

to  the  church  have  taken  place,  wliile  two  or  three  of  its  members  have 

been  removed  by  death.     Circumstances  have  been  more  than  usually 

adverse.     Owing  to  the  stagnation  of  business,  many  have  been  stinted 

in  their  means  of  sn])port,  leading  them  to  ask,  •'  What  shall  we  eat  r  " 

&c.  rather  than,  "  What  shall  we  do  to  be  saved:'"     There  has  been 

also  more  and  longer  continued  distressing  and  mortal  sickness  than 

I  ever  wiMiessed,  \vhich  has  seemed  to  weigh  down  the  mind  with  an 

engrossing  cd'ect.  under  the  sense  of  an  overwhelming  evil.     The  effect 

has  been  stunning,  rather  than  awakening  and  solemnizing.     Yet  I 

cannot  but  hope,  that  the  labor  bestowed  will  not  be  finally  useless, 

and  that  the  seed  sown  will  yet  spring  up,  and  result   in  a  valuable 

harvest :   tliat  the  passing  away  of  the  pressure  of  adversity  may  l)e 

followed  by  an  elastic  exi)ansion  of  the  mind,  issuing  in  works  meet 

for  repentance  and  tinal  salvation. 

llcspcctfidly, 

Ptiim.vs   Fish. 


Koproscutations  liaviuy-  Ixhmi  iiiiulo  by  tlio  l?ev.  Sanniol 
J.  ATav,  ()f"Svr;uiisr,  IS'.  \.  of  the  conditioii  niul  wants  of  a 


n 


remnant  of  the  Onondnna  tribe  of  Indians  in  that  vicinity, 
and  it  being  s^jccially  desired  that  aid  shonld  be  afforded 
tlieiu  in  tlie  erection  of  a  mc^^ting-honse,  the  means  for 
Avliich  liad  in  \)i\vt  be(>n  ah-eady  fnrnished  from  other 
sonrees,  it  was  \oted  to  ai)[m)[)riate  three  hnndrcd  doUars 
towards  this  object.  ]N[r.  INIay  was  recinesttnl  to  super- 
intend tlie  expenditure  of  the  same ;  and  from  him  have 
be(>n  received  n^peated  conununications,  expressing  both 
the  gratitude  of  tlie  peoph^  for  the  encouragement  thus 
afforded  them,  and  informing  us  of  the  successful  prose- 
cution of  the  work. 

In  a  letter  recei\"ed  by  the  Secretary  the  day  follo^^•ing 
the  scMui-annual  meeting,  ]\Ir.  ISIay  thus  writes :  — 


Syracusk,  Xov.  2,  18-18. 

Doiiv  Sir.  —  I  liave  been  from  lioine  nmch  of  the  time  for  the  last 
month,  pvciicluiig  in  many  parts  of  central  Xcw  York.  Ilatl  it  not 
been  so  witli  mo,  I  should  have  attended  before  to-day  to  my  duty  to 
you,  touching;  the  Onondap,'a  Indians,  to  wiiom  tlie  Society  for  Propa- 
gating the  Gospel,  &c.  have  through  your  lumds  lately  extended  a 
most  timely  aid. 

The  building  of  their  church  is  completed.     It  is  a  very  neat  edifice, 

and  appears  to  be  substantial  and  well  painted liotli  inside  and 

out,  it  presents  an  inviting  appearance.  Over  the  entrance  is  a  well- 
proportioned  belfry,  in  which  may  be  swung  a  bell  of  .3;50  pounds  ;  and 
I  hope,  ere  long,  a  sweet-toned  one  may  resound  through  the  beautiful 
valley  of  this  once  noble  tribe.  The  church  stands  by  the  side  of  the 
school-house  that  was  built  for  tlie  Indians  last  year.  It  is  on  a  slight 
eminence  near  the  great  road  that  has  been  laid  by  the  State  through 
the  Reservation 

I  attended  the  dedication  of  the  church  on  the  12th  of  October. 
Several  other  ministers  were  there,  most  of  them  belonging  to  the 
Methodist  denomination  ;  and  I  took  part  with  them  in  the  exercises  of 
the  occasion.  About  a  hundred  Indians  were  present,  male  and  female, 
neatly  dressed  ;  the  women  all  in  Indian  costume.  More  than  a  hun- 
dred white  jieople  were  also  there.    The  Indians  sang  ajipropriato  hymns 


'23 


;inity, 

[ortlod 

Ins  for 

'other 

lollars 

fupor- 

iuivc 

both 

tliiis 

)rosc- 


in  the  Mohawk  dialect,  and  gang  very  sweetly.     The  sermon  was  (;i)in- 
municated  to  them  by  an  interpreter. 

The  llev.  David  Faucher  is  stationed  amongst  them,  as  their  spir- 
itual guide ;  and  he  appears  to  be  a  man  of  good  sense,  and  of  a  patient, 

devoted  spirit. 

Very  truly  yours, 

Sa.muet.  J.  Mat. 


ludiulccl  ill  tlie  third  class  of  appropriations  for  tho 
year  arc  the  Isle  of  Shoals,  and  the  Island  of  ^latinicus 
within  the  State  of  ]Maine. 

In  relation  to  the  Isle  of  Slioals,  it  is  necessary  to 
state  that  circumstances  had  arisen  in  the  course  of  the 
preceding  year,  awakening  the  inquiries  of  the  Com- 
mittee, and  leading  afterwards  to  the  ap[)ointment,  by 
the  Society,  of  three  of  their  number  to  \'isit  the  island, 
and  investigate  tlu^  condition  of  the  mission  and  of  the 
people.  This  Committee  Avere  the  Rev.  A.  V.  Pcabody 
of  Portsmouth,  llev.  S.  K.  IjOthrop,  and  the  Secretary. 
In  fulfilment  of  this  appointment,  the  other  gentlemen 
being  prevented  by  indispensable  engagements,  the  Sec- 
retary spent  Sunday  and  Monday,  the  I'^th  and  13th  of 
August,  at  Gosport.  He  was  cordially  welcomed  by  jMr. 
Blodget  and  his  family,  who  had  succeeded  to  the  places 
just  before  left  \  acant  by  the  departure  of  iSlr.  and  ]Mrs. 
Plumer;  but  found  the  whole  aspect  of  things  far  less 
(>ncouraging  than,  from  the  general  tenor  of  the  reports 
of  this  latter  gentleman,  the  Society  had  been  authorized 
to  exp(>ct.  The  Sunday  school  had  but  a  name  to  live 
with  very  few  attending  it.  Agreeably  to  a  notice  that 
had  been  previously  given,  it  was  re-organized  under  the 
superintendence  of  Mr.  Blodget  that  same  day.  The 
asp(^ct  of  the  church  spoke  ill  for  the  love  of  neatness 
4 


'2G 


and  Older  or  reverence  in  the  people  ;  it  bearing  in 
notliing  the  appearance  of  a  building  that  had  been 
swei)t  or  garnished  for  many  months.  The  attendance 
of  the  worsliippers  at  the  public  services,  conducted 
partly  by  Mr.  Blodget,  was  exceedhigly  meagre,  even 
with  the  fullest  allowances  for  a  season  of  the  year  when 
a  part  of  the  inhabitants  must  be  absent  on  their  fishing 
employments.  In  visits  afterwards  made  to  the  houses 
of  the  people,  as  well  as  in  an  address  from  the  pulpit, 
occasion  was  taken  to  remind  them  of  the  importance 
of  their  priA'ileges,  and  that  on  some  better  evidence  of 
their  improving  them  than  had  appeared,  must  depend 
the  continuance  of  the  bounty  of  the  Society,  which  had 
already  becui  extended  for  so  long  a  series  of  years. 

One  redeeming  feature  Ave  gladly  notice,  which  was 
that  presented  by  the  day-school  of  Miss  Ilndcrhill,  its 
late  skilful  and  foithful  instructress,  who,  in  the  last 
report  she  was  permitted  to  make  to  the  Committee, 
thus  writes :  —  "  This  has  been  to  me  a  new  and  very 
interesting  field  of  labor ;  and,  if  I  may  be  permitted  to 
say  it  after  several  years'  experience  in  teaching  children, 
I  think  this  school  will  not  suft'er  in  comparison  with 
any  of  the  same  age  with  which  I  am  acquainted." 

The  whole  appearance  of  the  school,  as  seen  by  the 
Secretary,  fully  justified  this  language  of  its  instructress, 
and  only  leaves  us  to  the  deeper  regrets,  that  the  course 
of  one  so  usefully  and  honorably  engaged,  who  had  con- 
ciliated respect  wherever  she  was  known,  should  have 
been  so  soon  and  so  mournfully  closed.  In  precisely  a 
month  from  this  day  of  .visiting  her  school.  Miss  Under- 
bill, accompanying  some  friends  to  a  favorite  spot,  where 


21 


she  was  accustomed  to  spend  many  of  her  leisure  hours 
ill  witnessing  from  the  rocks  God's  glories  in  the  deep, 
was  suddenly  overwhelmed  bv  a  risincr  wave,  and  with- 
drawn  at  once  and  for  (>ver  from  the  scenes  of  earth.* 

An  event  so  impressive,  filling  with  consternation  the 
hearts  of  friends,  could  not,  by  even  the  most  insensible, 
be  regarded  with  indiffei-ence.  We  learn  that  it  was  not 
without  its  salutary  impression  on  the  muids  of  the 
people  whose  child  r(>ii  she  had  taught,  and  who  had 
other  opportunities  of  Icnowing  her  worth.  We  are  now 
encouraged  to  hope,  that,  under  the  faithful  ministra- 
tions of  our  new  missionary,  Mr.  Blodget,  a  fresh  interest 
will  be  awakened,  and  a  better  aspect  of  affairs  presented. 
From  a  letter  recently  addressed  by  him  to  the  Secretary, 
the  following  is  an  extract :  — 


\ 


GosrouT,  Isle  of  Shoals,  Oct.  10,  1848. 

Dear  Sir,  — The  prospects  of  the  mission  at  the  time  wc 

enjoyed  the  pleasure  of  your  visit  were  any  thing  but  cliecring.  Our 
own  hearts  were  well  nigh  sinking.  But  we  think  we  can  say,  in  truth, 
that  we  have  now  some  encouragement.  The  number  in  attendance 
at  church  on  the  Sabbath  has  been  gradually  and  constantly  increasing. 
Men  who  had  not  been  to  church  for  years,  as  1  am  told,  have  for  a 
few  Sabbaths  past  been  there.  The  last  Sabbath  our  congregation 
numbered  sixty-four,  and  for  the  four  last  weeks  liave  averaged  fii'ty. 
This,  we  tliink,  is  doing  well,  considering  that  but  few  attend  from  the 
other  islands,  though  I  have  visited  them  all,  and  that  it  must  be 

remembered  there  are  but  eighty  inhabitants  on  this  island 

Our  Sunday  school  is  now,  we  think,  as  good  a  one  for  its  size  as  any 
that  can  be  found.  It  numbers  thirty-two  scholars,  six  teachers,  a 
superintendent,  and  a  librarian.     We  iiavc  also  a  Hible-class  of  about 


*  It  was  not  till  aftor  an  Lutcrvnl  o(  several  iliiys  that  the  body  of  Miss 
TTnderhill  was  found  oil  the  Vorii  l)eiuh,  a  cU-lamc  ol'  twiiity  iiiile.;  tioiu  the 
5))ot  where  she  jiorislu'd. 


28 


fifteen  persons,  who  very  {generally  attend ;  and  we  have  noticed  a 
marked  improvement  of  late  in  the  appearance  of  the  congregation, 
both  young  and  old,  at  church. 

Our  day-school  was  in  a  most  flourishing  condition  before  that 
mysterious  dispensation  of  divine  Providence  which  deprived  us  of 
our  beloved  and  talented  teacher,  Miss  Underhill.  That  stroke  nearly 
disheartened  us ;  nor  will  her  ])luce,  I  fear,  be  easily  filled. 

Of  our  future  prospects  we  cannot  speak  with  much  confidence  ;  for 
this  people  are  given  to  change.  Hut  on  the  truthfulness  of  the  above 
statements  you  can  fully  rely ;  and  I  think  you  would  be  satisfied, 
could  you  now  witness  them,  with  the  present  appearances  of  the 
misijion  in  many  respects. 

I  am  yours  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel, 

L.  D.  Blobget. 

It  only  remains  that  wo  advert  to  tlic  Island  of  ]Matin- 
icLis,  situated  on  the  coast  of  Maine,  and  about  twenty 
miles  from  Thomastown.  On  the  representation  of  the 
people  of  this  island  of  their  s[)iritual  needs,  an  appro- 
priation was  made  in  aid  of  sustaining  religious  institu- 
tions among  them,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Plumer  was  authorized 
to  spend  a  few  months  as  their  missionary.  AVe  have 
learned,  that  the  population  of  Matinicus  is  about  one 
hundred  and  eighty,  besides  a  small  number  scattered 
over  the  little  islands  around  it ;  that  the  people  are  well 
disposed  to  the  religious  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  as  is 
evidenced  by  their  faithful  attendance  on  the  public 
worship ;  and  that  the  Sunday  school,  numbering  about 
forty  pupils  with  good  and  competent  teachers,  may  be 
considered  as  doing  well. 


It  ^^  ill  be  perceived  from  the  view  now  presented,  that 
the  returns  of  our  missionaries  for  the  past  ^riu  have 
been  unusually  minute  and  full;    and  the  Committee 


29 


believe  they  will  appear  satisfactory.  I'rom  the  necessity 
of  the  case,  from  the  wide  distance  of  most  of  our 
fields  of  labor,  not  only  from  the  convenient  but  even 
the  possible  inspection  of  tlu;  Society,  these  letters  fur- 
nish nearly  the  only  means  of  knowledge  on  which  we 
can  rely.  At  the  same  time,  the  admonitory  experience  of 
som(.'  former  years,  not  without  an  added  example  in  the 
present,  as  cxhibit(Hl  in  this  Report,  connected  witli  the 
acknowledged  tendency  in  us  all  to  regard  faAorably  our 
own  labors,  and  to  indulge  in  some  sanguine  anticipa- 
tions of  their  results,  suggests  the  importance  of  obtain- 
ing, if  possible,  other  and  more  independent  sources  of 
information.  The  Committee  would,  therefore,  respect- 
fully urge  upon  the  Society  tlie  ex])e(liency  of  employing, 
from  time  to  time,  discreet  and  disinterested  persons, 
either  from  their  own  number,  or  otlier  gentlemen  (pjali- 
fied  for  the  inquiry,  who  sliould  visit,  as  far  as  practica- 
ble, our  dift'erent  missionary  fields,  and  ascertain  for 
themselves  the  condition  of  the  peo})le,  with  the  measures 
of  acceptance  and  usefulness,  or  otlierwise,  of  our  mis- 
sionaries. They  believe,  that  a  portion  of  the  funds 
of  the  Society  could  not  be  more  usefully  expended  than 
by  the  employment  of  one  or  more  such  persons  on  a 
mission  of  investigation,  during  the  summer  or  travelling 
months  of  the  ensuing  year. 

Since  the  publication  of  our  last  Annual  Report,  two 
individuals,  whose  respected  names  long  appeared  in  the 
catalogue  of  the  members  of  this  Society,  have  been 
removed  from  the  scenes  of  life,  and  joined  to  the  great 
congregation  of  the  dead.  And  though,  from  considera- 
tions  approving   themselves   to   their   own  minds,  not 


30 


nocossary,  tlicroforo,  by  us  to  be  canvassed,  the  Society 
failed,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  to  enjoy  the  benefit 
cither  of  their  presence  or  counsel ;  yet  none  who  knew 
them  within  the  walks  of  honor  and  usefulness  wliicli 
they  occupied  ;  none  who  had  opportunities  to  mark 
the  ability,  earnestness,  and  general  acceptance,  with 
which  they  fulfilled  their  respective  departments  of  life, 
—  the  Hon.  Judge  Hubbard,  in  a  profession  which  by 
his  learning  he  adorned,  and  afterwards  in  the  high 
places  of  justice,  to  which  he  was  called  with  the 
appro\ing  voice  of  the  commonwealth,  —  and  the  Kev. 
Dr.  Codman,  in  the  zealous  dischai'ge  of  a  faithful  mini- 
stry, —  will  doubt  that  they  have  been  added  to  them  of 
Avhom  it  is  written,  that  "  God  is  not  ashamed  to  be 
called  their  God,  and  hath  prepared  for  them  a  city." 

A\'hich  is  respectfully  submitted. 

For  the  Conuuittee, 

FiiA.\(  IS  Parkman,  Sec. 


lut 


mci 
me: 

So( 


\vh 
abf 


Boston,  Nov.  2,  1S48. 


;icty 
iiefit 
new 
liicli 
lark 
*vith 
lifo, 
L  by 
lioh 
tlic 
llcv. 
lini- 
n  of 
3  be 


At  the  scmi-annuiil  mcetinf?  of  Xovombcr,  1816,  the  following  reso- 
lutions were  adopted  on  recommendation  of  the  Select  C^ommittec  :  — 

"  Every  member,  -whi)  shall  hereafter  be  absent  from  six  successive  stated 
meetings  of  the  Society,  shall  be  considered  as  thereby  resigning  his  place  as  a 
member. 

"  And  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  notify  any  member  of  the 
Society  Avho  may  hereafter  be  absent  ti-om  fmir  successive  stated  meetings,  that 
absence  fi-om  two  more  such  meetings  will  vacate  his  otHcc." 

The  Secretary  accordingly  notifies  those  members  of  the  Society 
who  may  have  been  absent  from  the  four  last  stated  meetings,  that 
absence  from  two  more  such  meetings  will  vacate  their  office. 


Sec. 


